Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 12th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Feb 26 at
7:42AM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very cold in Scotland with strong wind. Snow in the central/south highlands, some improvement from the north. Blustery too in north England, cloudy with patchy morning snow, later more frequent. South Pennines and north Wales see rain and snow with lighter wind. Blustery with patchy rain south Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Bitterly cold and windy; cloud and snow showers north areas
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-northeasterly 30-40mph, trending northeasterly and easing, 20-30mph, though may remain gusty over high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with severe wind chill early, slowly easing with time, though always blustery in exposure.
How Wet?
Morning snow, breaking to showers north
Morning snow, most over the high Cairngorms and eastern hills/Deeside. The snow soon breaks into showers from the north, some reaching towards Strathspey/Monadhliath, occasionally slipping to southern slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain/northern slopes
Fairly extensive across most hills down to middle slopes from dawn, soon lifting and becoming more broken, mostly lingering on the Cairngorm plateau and northern slopes, some bases to middle slopes in snow.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of weak sun possible later but mostly cloudy. Visibility becoming very good where away from snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4 or -5C (to -8C on highest summits). Temperature will drop overnight. Feeling like -20C or colder in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Frost to glen level likely widespread from dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 13th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Feb 26 at
7:42AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally northerly, 15-30mph, some variability in speed and direction, gusty near showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in places, but often blustery with strenuous walking in high exposure with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Some snow showers from the north
Snow showers drift inland from the north, mostly affecting the Cairngorm plateau and northern slopes. Southern slopes stay largely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud banks on tops and high northern slopes
Cloud banks often clinging to the northern slopes, mostly 900m or higher, a few breaks but may drift lower too during a snow shower. South of the Cairngorm plateau and towards Drumochter largely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sunshine on high northern slopes, more consistent to the south. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5 or -6C (to -9C Ben Macdui summit at dawn), rising a degree or two in sun. Feeling as cold as -20C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, though sun-exposed glens and low slopes may thaw.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 14th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 12th Feb 26 at
7:42AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 10-15mph, shifting southwesterly and strengthening to a gusty 25-35mph later, deteriorating overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small well into the day, but the gusty breeze becoming uncomfortable later.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected during daylight
After nightfall, snow arrives from the west, gradually spreading widely.
Cloud on the hills?
Little or no cloud
Odd patches on high tops possible later in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sunshine with excellent visibility. Late in the day, some high cloud moves in from the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4 or -5C; little change with added height.
Freezing Level
All terrain frozen all day, though some sun-exposed low slopes may see a light thawing.
Planning Outlook
Colder for all areas during the transition into the weekend, mountain terrain frozen to increasingly lower elevations - soonest toward the north and east of Scotland. A widespread frost early on Saturday. Northeasterly wind will be dominant - the distribution of snow showers shifting with time from eastern hills to more north-facing mountains, particularly Scotland. Brighter than recently with sunshine and clearer hills later Friday and Saturday. Gales with heavy snow (rain to increasingly higher elevations) overnight into Sunday brings a return to unsettled weather for the following week - wet and windy periods come and go, freezing levels rising (high Scotland terrain stays frozen), then lowering again during periods of northwesterly wind.